MBDA has reported progress on the development and trials of the two, complementary missiles that make up the Future Cruise and Anti Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) or, in French, Futur Missile Antinavire/Futur Missile de Croisière (FMAN/FMC) program.

The 2 weapons are reportedly both capable of land strike and anti-shipping use, albeit with different approaches. One missile is subsonic and described as “ultra-low observable”, while the other is supersonic. For the moment, the missiles are known only as TP15 (turbofan propulsion, 15th design iteration) and RJ10 (RamJet, 10th design).

From French official sources we understand the supersonic RJ is heavily based on French input, both in terms of requirements and technology, probably drawing straight from ASMP (Air Sol Moyenne Portée) experience, while the TP15 has been driven by the UK.

According to the French DGA, the split is very clear, with a 90-10% split in each missile: RJ 90% French, TP 90% British. MBDA has now reported that the first prototype ultra-low observable missile has been manufactured and has gone through extensive RF-signature testing conducted in an unspecified test laboratory.

In parallel, “exhaustive” supersonic wind-tunnel testing has been completed on the supersonic missile’s propulsion system at MBDA’s facility in Bourges. Test results are said to be “impressive”. Other trials completed across both missiles include tests on their advanced seekers, tests of the missiles’ warheads and fuzing systems, aerodynamic trials and other engine testing. The engine for the TP15 is thought to be a new turbofan developed specifically by Rolls Royce and Safran, which established a joint venture for this project at Farnborough 2022.

Some 750 people are working on FC/ASW between UK and France sites, making progress in maturing key sub-systems and technologies for both missiles. Progress is described as “rapid” and “on-schedule” to complete the current assessment phase. However, we have not been provided a definitive indication of when the Assessment phase was expected to conclude.

The Concept phase, kicked off in 2016, closed in July 2021 and Assessment phase was jointly initiated, after some political turbulence between London and Paris, in February 2022. It is understood to be near complete, with the launch of the Demonstration and Manufacture phase expected in the near future. According to a line in the UK Major Projects report for 2023, the Assessment phase is a 3-year effort, so it probably formally concludes around February-march 2025.

Italy had joined the program and will presumably become fully involved exactly as the project transitions to D&M phase. As of early 2024, the UK government said the budget for the Concept and Assessment Phases was approved at 409 million pounds. Entry into service of the ship-launched solution is expected in 2028 with the air launched solution to replace STORM SHADOW is wanted in 2030, although whether these timelines will stay true is as yet unknown.

There is still not a definitive answer on which of the 2 missiles will be launched from ships. The uncertainty is born from the somewhat conflicting requirements of UK and France. The UK needs to replace the air launched STORM SHADOW and wants a new anti-ship weapon with secondary land-strike capabilities.

France wants to replace SCALP-EG and EXOCET. While the requirements seem to match perfectly, the situation is actually more complicated since the UK aims to put the new ship-launched missile in MK41 vertical cells while France is thought to favour launch from on-deck inclined canisters, although vertical launch from Sylver A70 Next Generation cells is also mentioned (and reportedly interests Italy).

France’s preference for on-deck canisters stems from the need to preserve the few A70 cells on its FREMM ships for the MdCM (Missile de Croisière Naval) cruise missile, which is not intended to be replaced by FC/ASW. The UK in turn notoriously uses the American TOMAHAWK (although at present only for torpedo tube launch on the SSNs), which it is upgrading to Block V and are also not affected by FC/ASW. Type 26 frigates are being built with 24 MK41 cells in which the Royal Navy hopes to embark at least a new dual-use missile via FC/ASW and, eventually, a rocket-launched STINGRAY Mod 2 torpedo as long range ASW solution.

Italy’s aims for FC/ASW on ships are also not immediately clear as the Marina Militare wants a cruise missile but seems oriented towards MdCM, while anti-ship capability is seeing just now the arrival of the latest TESEO Mk2/e. The result is some confusion on which missile will be capable of being launched how. It is not clear if TP15 can be adapted to also be ship-launched: in 2021, at the time of the political turmoil between London and Paris, the DGA reported in Parliament that France wanted the RJ missile to replace EXOCET in ship and air launch roles and to deliver a strike capability against heavily defended targets. RJ was also deliberately intended as a DEAD (Destruction of Enemy Air Defences) weapon.

According to the DGA, the UK was focused on the TP missile, beginning with its launch from ships. The situation appears to have subsequently evolved with the Royal Navy embracing the supersonic option, with repeated mention of it in public speeches during 2022 by both the then just arrived in office 1st Sea Lord Admiral Benjamin Key and outgoing Sea Lord, elevated to Chief Defence Staff, Admiral Antony Radakin (indeed, they urged adoption of hypersonic, not just supersonic, weapons).

In November 2023, MBDA UK released call to prospective suppliers to deliver the Shipping Containers for both the Air Launch weapon and Ship Launch (vertical launch) weapon. While the dimensional data provided (external dimensions for the air launch weapon 6 x 0.6 x 0.6 m, circa 1000 kg mass, and in-container size of 7 x 0.7 x 0.7, 1500 kg mass for the VL weapon) are not in themselves a definitive indication, we believe the air launched weapon to be TP15 and the VL weapon to be RJ10.

From what we know so far, we believe TP15 is now to be developed only for air launch, while RJ10, considering the needs of the participating countries, is quite likely going to be available for air, vertical and on-deck canister launch. Replying to our questions, MBDA UK has not provided more definitive explanations at this stage, saying some things will only be firmed up with the launch of the Demonstration and Manufacture phase.

The MBDA UK calls for the shipping containers called for the first prototypes to be delivered in 2026 and contained some indications of initial thinking on numbers from the UK side: 760 containers for the air launched weapon and 100 shipping frames for the movement of canistered, ship vertical launch weapons.

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